Spray guard



Dec. 16, 1958 E. R. MUDDIMAN I SPRAY GUARD FiledApril 3. 1957 N VE N TOREA RLL R. MUDD/MA/V flOflMu 4 AM his Attorney.

States SPRAY GUARD Application April 3, M57, Serial No. 650,564 11}Claims. (Cl. 15-102) This invention relates to a spray guard for use ina high speed strip processing line.

Many strip metal processing lines include a series of tanks throughwhich strip passes vertically for treatment with a liquid. Typicalexamples are electrolytic tinplating cells or acid pickling cells.conventionally the strip passes over a top directional roll downwardlyinto one of the tanks, under a sink roll adjacent the bottom of thistank, upwardly from this roll back through the tank and over another topdirectional roll into the next tank. Strip traveling at high speed tendsto drag liquid from the tanks. A common practice is to journal asqueezer roll alongside the top directional roll at exit side of a tank.As strip leaves the tank, it passes between the squeezer roll and thetop directional roll, which return drags out liquid to the tank. Atmoderate strip speeds (for example up to 1000 F. P. M.) this arrangementis satisfactory, but as the speed is increased, liquid dragged from thetank passes between the strip surface and the squeezer roll and createsan objectionable spray above the rolls.

An object of the present invention is to provide a guard whichpositively prevents any spray of draggedout liquid above the rolls andreturns such liquid to the tank.

A further object is to provide, in combination with a top directionalroll and optionally also with a squeezer roll, a guard which includes anoverlying flexible currain suitably supported for returning dragged outliquid to the tank.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I haveprovided improved details of structure, preferred forms of which areshown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic vertical partially sectional view of aportion of a strip processing line equipped with a spray guard inaccordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View in more detail of a top directional rolland a squeezer roll which have my guard installed thereon; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic vertical partially sectional view of amodification in which the squeezer roll is not used.

Figure 1 shows two conventional tanks and 12 of a series in which acontinuous metal strip S is treated with a liquid L. The strip passesover a conventional top directional roll 13 journaled above the entryside of tank 14), downwardly through the liquid in this tank, under aconventional sink roll 14 journaled adjacent the bottom of the tank,upwardly back through the liquid, over another top directional roll 15journaled above the exit side of the tank, and downwardly into the nexttank 12. A conventional squeezer roll 16 is journaled alongside the topdirectional roll 15. As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the squeezerroll can be supported on a pair of arms 17 which are pivoted to anoverhead beam 13. A pair of compression springs 19 urge the from beam 18on a bracket ice 2 respective arms downwardly'and thus force thesqueezer roll 16 toward the directional roll 15. As the strip S leavesthe tank 10, it passes between rolls 15 and 16 which tend to returndragged-out liquid to the tank, but which become ineffective for thispurpose at high speeds, as already explained.

The spray guard of my invention comprises a flexible curtain 26} whichoverlies both the top directional roll 15 and the squeezer roll 16 andextends below its lines to tangency with these rolls. As best shown inFigure 2, the curtain 20 is attached intermediate its length to theunderside of a transverse bar 21 which is suspended 22. The curtain canbe of any flexible material inert to the liquid of the tank, for examplevarious plastics or glass fibers. It the top directional roll 15 is atype which conducts electric current to the strip, as in an electrolytictinning operation, electric insulation is interposed between the curtainand beam. Bar 21 itself can be formed of rigid insulating material forthis purpose. Liquid adhering to the strip as it emerges from the biteof rolls 15 and 16 furnishes lubrication between the strip and curtain.Such liquid is intercepted by the curtain and returns to the tanks asindicated in Figure 1, without creating a spray above the rolls.

Figure 3 shows a modification in which my guard is applied to a topdirectional roll 15a not associated with a squeezer roll. The guardincludes a curtain 20a attached to a transverse bar 21a suitablysupported so that its underface lies in approximately the samehorizontal plane as the roll axis. The curtain overlies the directionalroll as in the first embodiment and acts to return liquid to the tanksin similar fashion. I

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords asimple guard for positively preventing objectionable sprays above tanksin a high speed processing line for continuous strip. The invention hasthe further advantage that it can be installed on existing lines withoutotherwise altering their structure.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is apparent that other modifications may arise. Therefore,I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a strip processing line which includes at least one tank adaptedto contain liquid and from which strip emerges traveling upwardly, and atop directional roll journaled above the tank and over which the strippasses after leaving the liquid of the tank, the combination with saidroll of a spray guard comprising a flexible curtain of material inert tothe liquid of the tank overlying said roll, and support means to whichsaid curtain is attached.

2. In a strip processing line which includes at least one tank adaptedto contain liquid and from which strip emerges traveling upwardly, a topdirectional roll journaled above the tank and over which the strippasses after leaving the liquid of the tank, and a squeezer rolljournaled alongside said directional roll for returning to the tankliquid dragged out with the strip, the combination with said rolls of aspray guard comprising a support above a portion of at least one of saidrolls, and a flexible curtain of material inert to the liquid of thetank attached to said support and overlying both said rolls forintercepting liquid which passes above the bite of the rolls.

3. In a strip processing line which includes at least one tank adaptedto contain liquid and from which strip emerges traveling upwardly, a topdirectional roll journaled above the tank and over which the strippasses 4 after leaving the liquid of the tank, an overhead beam rolls,said curtain having lines of tangency with both above said directionalroll, support means pivoted to said rolls and extending below theselines of tangency. said beam, and a squeezer roll journaled to saidsupport 4. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which said means andcooperable with said directional roll for re- 5 curtain is electricallyinsulated from said beam.

the combination with said rolls of a spray guard com- References Citedin the file Of this Pawnt prising a tranverse bar supported by said beamabove UNITED STATES PATENTS a portion of at least one of said rolls, anda flexible curtain of material inert to the liquid of the tank atgig u3g tached to said bar and overlying both said rolls for 10 u

